Big Puck reports: one win, two defeats over the weekend

Thanks to Pete Lewis and the guys from the Chieftains for supplying the information.

It was disappointment and frustration in the main for the Chelmsford ice hockey teams this past weekend as the South East Cup was won by the Romford Raiders at the Riverside on Saturday, despite the Chieftains only playing 2 games of their allocated 6 in the competition. The Chieftains will be kicking themselves after going 5-2 ahead and allowing 3 goals in less than a minute during the second period. Tom Long got the Chieftains off and running early on but Danny Marshall and Grant Taylor both beat netminder David Wride to make it 2-1 before the end of the period. In the second the Chelmsford side scored twice in the first 2 minutes to go 3-2 up through Danny Hammond and Jakub Klima. Then they went 5-2 ahead with the goals coming from Long and Gary Clarke. Then disaster struck 35:27 when Matt Turner scored, followed up 29 seconds later through Jason Buckman and then seconds later Billy Phillips tied the game up. Two late goals in the third from Juraj Huska and JJ McGrath sealed the win and the first piece of silverware on offer this season.

Onto Sunday and Player-Coach Clarke knew he'd have to re-group the troops and get a good result against an improving Milton Keynes side. An early scare saw Joe Edwards fire past Ben Clements and many of the Chieftains faithful had their heads in their hands. However Clarke once again led by example and tied the game up from a neat pass from Long who'd go on to get a richly deserved man of the match award. Long was provider once again for Klima before Michael Ranby stepped up with a brace in fairly quick succession. Klima scored again, followed by Harrison Goode getting a consolation for the Thunder and then Ross Brears netted to cap a fine display from the youngster. Then the gloves came off as Danny Cox took apart Vladimir Hubka in retribution after Hubka had put Klima head-first into the boards. Long scored twice more and also provided Clarke with his second of the night to round out a convincing 9-2 win.

Meanwhile on the Isle of Wight a feisty game between the Tigers and Warriors was overshadowed by some questionable officiating. Reports from the rink suggest that a number of the misconduct penalties given out were unnecessary and uncalled for and this made a mockery of the game. The Warriors fell to a tight 8-7 defeat after seeing 4 misconduct penalties given against them, including a bizarre game misconduct for captain Will Polston who left the bench to query the officials after a fight between Connor Swainsbury and Tigers veteran Chris Randall. Scorers for Warriors were Ben Osborne and Richard Whiting with two a piece, Ricky Mills, Grant Bartlett and Swainsbury.

Sol y Futbol: Lanzarote beat League leaders.

Ian Lane reports from Arrecife, as Lanzarote put on a classy display to beat the top team.

LANZAROTE 1 S.D. TENISCA 0

Lanzarote have beaten league leaders S.D. Tenisca with a display that oozed with class, determination and passion that eventually led to a winner two minutes from time by Javi Betancort.

The Rojillos began the match in positive fashion dominating possession and creating the clearer chances. In the eighth minute a cross from the right by the Rojillos outstanding number 21 Ayoze Pérez was met by striker Rosmen, the tall centre forward once again saw his header hit the woodwork for the umpteenth this season.

Ayoze and defender Ángel Gil combined superbly down the right flank but their crosses were defended by a well organised back four. The visitors were fast on the break and with the league’s best strike force of Dani López, Memo and Adrían Gutiérrez who have bagged all but two of their teams 30 goals this season meant Lanzarote had to be on their guard.

One of the few opportunities for the La Palma side came from a free kick in the 27th minute. Defender Cabrera cleanly struck a free kick from 30 yards which whistled through the air aided by the breeze and goalkeeper Santi Lampón did well to dive and palm the ball away for a corner.

The Rojillos did not ease up on their visitors with Ayoze creating huge problems for the Tenisca left back. Almost every match tourists constantly come up to me asking who is number 21. The Lanzarote attacking midfielder Ayoze Pérez is most definitely playing his football in a league inferior to his capabilities.

Just after the half hour and Rosmen shot from the edge of the area only for his effort to inch past the post.

At the end of what was a hugely entertaining first half defender Adrián Martín had two efforts saved by goalkeeper Oliver Vega both from corners.

The opening stages of the second half were evenly balanced but it wasn’t long until the Rojillos picked up the pace and had their opponents defending. The La Palma side were forced to retreat following wave after wave of Rojillo attack but defend they did and saw off everything Lanzarote were throwing at them.

In the 60th minute and 69th saw the introduction of Toñito and Gustavo García respectively. This upped the tempo and forced the visitors to defend desperately in their final third. The Rojillos were getting closer and closer as their opponents began to tire.

Ten minutes before time and a quick counter attack forced Lanzarote keeper Santi Lampón to make a fine from a low drive at the near post from midfielder Jeffrey.

With two minutes remaining winger Toñito did what he does best by racing towards the by line and chipping in a teasing cross which could only be palmed away by the keeper. The ball fell to Javi Betancort at shoulder height and he somehow managed to wrap his foot around the ball and blast it into the net at the same height he had received it and sent the supportive crowd into a frenzy of delight.

The visitors then threw caution to the wind as they desperately went in search of an equaliser. Two minutes into stoppage time and defender Jordan let rip with a beauty from 30 yards. 39 year old Santi Lampón threw himself to the ball and tipped it wide for a corner showing why he has the best goalkeeping record in the league.

The Rojillos held on and deservedly claimed all three points which moves them up to eighth spot and four points off the play offs. Lanzarote have now taken 10 points out of their last four games but will face a tough test next Sunday when they visit Tenerife B who are just one play below the Rojillos in the league table.

WSN Basketball: Wasps tame the Tigers

Thank you to Dave Bushall and the team at Hull Wasps, for the match report and photo.

Hull Wasps 94 Mersey Tigers II 47

Hull Wasps battled back to winning ways with an impressive performance over Mersey Tigers II on Saturday evening.

The Wasps got off to a flyer in front of their home fans, scoring their first 8 points without reply and ultimately ending the first quarter 23-11 ahead.
The game continued for much of the same with the Wasps having strong second and third periods before closing the game off in the final period to seal the victory at 94-47.

“It was an improved performance by us” commented Wasps coach Matt Fawcett after the game.

“We were determined to put in a solid performance tonight. We knew that a strong start would be crucial to taking control in the game. We’ve not done that of late and that’s cost us so we were determined to put that right today.”

It was a good performance and we can take a lot of positives from the game. We’ll go on from here and hope to put a run of results together that our fans deserve.”
Saturday’s game was the final one for club favourite Rob Birchmore who will leave the club this week as he moves back home to Edinburgh.

Captain John Brignell led the line for the Wasps with 20 points. James Rayner came a close second with 19 and was awarded Most Valuable Player.

Gwrys Yn Kernow: Pirates run Bristol close in the Championship

Thank you to Woll for the match report, Brian Tempest for the photo and all our friends at the Pirates for supplying the report. www.cornish-pirates.com

Bristol 37 Cornish Pirates 33

RFU Championship Round 11

The Memorial Ground

Woll's Match Report

The contest had been billed as the game of the Championship so far, and few would doubt such an accolade as time was finally called by Mr Rose, with the Pirates desperately trying to sneak it at the end of a 70 point thriller.

That they had been under the cosh for the last twenty minutes and seen a thoroughly deserved 16 point cushion evaporate, only added further salt to the wounds. The Memorial hoodoo continues therefore, and the chance to record only the club's second win at the venue will have to wait a little longer. The Play Offs perhaps? Now that has a ring to it n'est pas?

Either way, the pain of knowing that the platform had been put in place with ample evidence of their own credentials having been on show for the first hour will hurt. Severely. But it may be just the trigger needed to add further incentive to push even harder for the Dream to be realised, now that the Sportiva Kernow seems now at last to be on the horizon.

And yet only a short time earlier as Kessell scampered over for his side's fifth try of the contest, the Cornishmen appeared to be on the verge of a famous win. In the west the sunset and skyline looked magnificent and suddenly we believed.

They'd been a brief show of Bristol strength in the first half for some ten minutes or so; triggered as it was by a huge hit on Locke by former Pirate; Fatialofa; that seemed to be the spark the home side needed; having been totally outplayed in the first ten and down to Suniula's first Pirate try that had stunned in the opening minute.

The centre then went on to score himself and backed up by the trusty boot of Roberts, pulled the hosts back from their early straits and into a narrow three point lead as the game moved into its second quarter.

It wasn't to last. With Burgess and Marriott continuing to cut huge holes in the Bristol defence the Pirates weathered the storm well and forced their way back into contention once more. Pressure built and home prop Hobson cracked first as another strong Pirates maul surged towards the line. His indiscretion cost him a ten minute spell with his feet up as a result of Sir's fumble in the pocket for the requisite yellow card, and the visitors exploited this numbers deficiency ruthlessly.

That man Ward was the first to benefit as he jinked his way through in front of the Family Enclosure. Whilst The Doc had the crowd on its feet as half time approached, as he first created some space just inside the Bristol half; and then switched on the after burners to leave his opponents for dust to score in the opposite corner. A special try and the best of the game.

Cook quietly added the extras each time and at the break then it was 21-10 and looking rather rosy.

This feeling continued into the second period as the Pirates picked up from they'd left off. Cook missed a chance to add three straightaway; but as Ward wriggled through for his second dot down minutes later after some patient build up play; the bonus point was in the bag. And a return to the top beckoned as Cook's fourth conversion screwed in between the uprights.

Home Skipper Grieve however lead by example and quickly responded with a try close to the posts to give what seemed like a flicker of hope. Until that was Kessell cancelled that out almost immediately following a deft show and go by Morgan, to surely restore order.

If only. identical tries by Merriman and Goodridge sliced the Pirates defence in two and with Roberts seemingly kicking everything from Filton and further afield; a repeat of their epic comeback at home to London Welsh looked eminently do-able.

Even Compton and Nimmo's contre-temps couldn't prevent the blue hooped wave of belief from completing the task. As Mr Rose only wrapped some knuckles and threatened a no supper sanction if it should repeat itself.

It didn't. Thus Roberts' final pot at the posts with less than five to play ensured the Pirates would only grab the honours subject to a sixth touchdown. Despite one final flourish this wasn't to be and that sick feeling wasn't to receive a cure this time.

Two points and a fourth spot will have to suffice as we enter the return fixture phase of Stage 1. It may have been nice to switch the emphasis away from jumping through hoops, but there is still a way to go before the braying can begin from Duchy's high points just yet. I somehow suspect that yer man Stirling has this in hand and we all know that as bitter as this may taste right now; nothing short of total commitment both on and off the pitch should be expected....


Cornish Pirates
15 R. Cook 14 G. Pointer 13 D. Locke 12 A. Suniula 11 D. Doherty
10 C. Thomas (22 M. Evans 33mins) 9 G. Cattle (capt)(21 T. Kessell 53mins)
8 K. Marriott (20 B. Cowan 60mins) 7 P. Burgess 6 C. Morgan (19 C. Walker-Blair 71mins) 5 I. Nimmo 4 L. McGlone 3 C. Rimmer (18 P. Andrew 57mins) 2 D. Ward 1 R. Storer (16 A. Paver 37mins)

Replacements: un-used 17 R. Elloway

Tries: Suniula, Ward 2, Doherty, Kessell
Cons: Cook 4

Bristol
15 S. Marsden 14 J. Tovey 13 F. Otto 12 J. Fatialofa 11 J. Goodridge
10 T. Roberts 9 T. Slater (21 R. Tipuna 48mins) 1 M. Irish (17 D. Crompton 41mins) 2 R. Lawrence (16 J. Harris-Wright HT) 3 J. Hobson 4 M. Sambucetti (19 J. Ovens 48mins) 5 R. Winters 6 I. Grieve (c) 7 J. Merriman (20 M. Mama 71mins)
8 D. Montagu (18 W. Thompson 27-37 mins)

Replacements: un-used 18 W. Thompson, 22 M. Davies

Tries: Fatialofa, Grieve, Merriman, Goodridge
Cons: Roberts 4
Pens: Roberts 3

Yellow: Hobson

Match Officials
Referee: David Rose
Assistants: Richard John Kelly, James Minards
4th Official: Andy Weymouth
Assessor: Ashley Reay

Attendance: 6044

Kult & Punk: St Pauli keep pressure on at the top

After the International break, the boys are back in gowns. It was to support public workers in Hamburg, they scrubbed up as Doctors and nurses. Still a good day had by all, inflatables of Angela Merkels and Sepp Blatter bumped into each other, the Euro deflated and goodness only knows what Berlesconi's was doing round the corner, only the air hole could be seen. To top the day, St Pauli won.

F.C. Hansa Rostock 1-3 FC St. Pauli

After the hosts had fought their way back into the game despite being a man down, the game looked certain to become the first ever draw between the two sides, before two late strikes decided the match in the visitors' favour.

Rostock began the better of the two teams, defying their position near the bottom of the table by pressuring their visitors high up the pitch, but Tom Weilandt's straight red card for dangerous foul play early on meant the hosts were forced to readjust their tactics. Pauli dominated thereafter, as Rostock packed the defence and were restricted to intermittent counter attacks. Pauli eventually broke the deadlock with a break of their own: after Robert Müller wasted a good chance to score for the home side, the visitors' rapid counter ended with Max Kruse poking home (40').

Rostock draw level

The hosts equalised shortly after the re-start, capitalising on some slack defending by Pauli. Keeper Philipp Tschauner spilled Robert Müller's shot, after the unmarked midfielder was allowed to meet Michael Blum's cross from the left and Marek Mintal was on hand to tap home the rebound (50'). The goal invigorated the home side, who once again pushed forward, with the visitors were unable to press home their numerical advantage. Yet as Rostock tired towards the end, the guests struck to take all three points, Mahir Saglik's brace (80', 90+1') putting the game beyond Rostock's reach.

The visitors' fourth consecutive away win lifted them to third in the table, while Rostock will be frustrated after coming away empty handed following a spirited performance that leaves them languishing near the foot of the table.

Former England cricketer Basil D'Oliveira dies

Basil D’Oliveira, the England cricket great and worldwide symbol of the fight against sporting apartheid, has died at the age of 80.

This post by Patrick Sawer, is supplied by our friends at the Daily Telegraph.

D'Oliveira's selection for England in 1968 led to South Africa’s sporting isolation after the racist regime refused to accept his presence in the squad due to tour the country that year.

D’Oliveira, known affectionately as Dolly, had been chosen to play for England after leaving his native South Africa in 1960. But South African Prime Minister BJ Voster told the English cricket authorities he would not be allowed to play.

The subsequent cancellation of the tour was a watershed in the sporting boycott of South Africa and led to an intensification of the campaign to isolate the apartheid regime. No official team from any country subsequently toured South Africa until apartheid was abolished, following Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990.
Tributes to D’Oliveira began pouring in on news of his death.

Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola said: “He was a man of true dignity and a wonderful role model as somebody who overcame the most extreme prejudices and circumstances to take his rightful place on the world stage.

“The circumstances surrounding his being prevented from touring the country of his birth with England in 1968 led directly to the intensification of opposition to apartheid around the world and contributed materially to the sports boycott that turned out to be an Achilles’ heel of the apartheid government.

“Throughout this shameful period in South Africa’s sporting history, Basil displayed a human dignity that earned him worldwide respect and admiration."

In fact, the D’Oliveira affair was not as clear cut as subsequent history as made it appear.

The MCC initially buckled under pressure from South African cricket officials and decided not to pick D’Oliveira for inclusion in the 1968 tour. The pretext used was that his style of bowling would not be suited to his native country.

However, the public outcry over the decision not to include him in the squad led to the MCC relenting and calling him up to replace Warwickshire’s Tom Cartwright when he was ruled out due to injury.

D’Oliveira was born in Cape Town in 1931 and as a child quickly began to display a phenomenal talent for cricket. However, under South Africa’s apartheid laws he was classed as "coloured" and barred from playing first class cricket.

He went on to captain South Africa’s national non-white cricket team and played football for the non-white national side, but with the help of the commentator John Arlott and the journalist John Kay Dolly emigrated to England where he joined the Central Lancashire League team of Middleton.

The move proved an eye opener for D’Oliveira, who was surprised to see white people doing menial, labouring work and waiting on him in restaurants.
He joined Worcestershire in 1964 and became a British citizen. Two years later he was selected for England as an all-rounder, and in 1967 was one of Wisden’s cricketers of the year.

Mr Majola said: “The fact that he could have a Test career batting average of 40 in 44 Tests and an economy rate of less than two with the ball on his way to 47 wickets was remarkable considering he was past his prime when he made his debut for England in his mid-30s.

“One can only imagine what he might have achieved had he made his debut as he should have done at the age of 20 on South Africa’s tour of England in 1951.

“I would like to pay tribute also to all those people in England, notably John Arlott, one of the greatest cricket radio commentators of all time, for the roles they played in making it possible for Basil to achieve his dream of playing international cricket for his adopted country."

D’Oliveira played in 44 test matches, scoring 2,484 runs, with five Test centuries and a batting average of 40.06. He took 47 Test wickets.

As well as being an ambassador for a sport free of discrimination he was also a tough competitor.

The night following England’s 2-0 series win over Australia in 1970-71 he took to jabbing his forefinger of every Australian he met, saying: “We stuffed you.”
D’Oliveira was suffering from Parkinson's disease.

Liverpool FC can't keep relying on Suarez

Upon requests from many of our readers, who are Liverpool fans, we will occasionally post stories from the blog, Liverpool Banter, created by our friends at Liverpool Echo and Liverpool Daily Post .

This post is by Jack Watson, a Columnist @ Liverpool Banter, www.liverpoolbanter.co.uk

So far this season, Liverpool have been very inconsistent. They have gone from the highs of winning 2-0 at the Emirates to disappointing draws at home to newly-promoted sides, Norwich City and Swansea City.

Much of this is down to the lack of goals being scored. After 11 league games, only 14 goals have hit the opposition net which just isn't good enough. Liverpool have hit the woodwork 11 times this season, though, which softens the blow a little.

The Reds sit fifth in the table, three points behind Tottenham who have a game in hand. Luckily, it is only early in the season but we can't continue to let our rivals stretch a lead over us. Arsenal may be below us but they have reignited their season over the past few weeks with some strong performances and keep collecting points.

The problem is clearly scoring goals. There are plenty of chances being created, but only 9% of them are being taken. - OptaStats

Luis Suarez is the most active Liverpool player in front of goal, constantly creating chances for not only his teammates, but himself. He continues to stretch defences, create openings and get shots in on goal. He managed 11 shots - alone - against Norwich City but Liverpool stumbled to a 1-1 draw.

He wasn't at his best last time out against Swansea - where the Reds drew 0-0 - but, again, he was the most potent attacking threat.

Much has been written of Andy Carroll this season, about his under-performing, and it has to be said; he really needs to buck up his ideas. You can see glimpses of the talent he possesses but he doesn't do that enough.

He proved this by crashing a shot into the crossbar from six-yards out against Swansea and sending a late header wide when Norwich visited Anfield. He has a lack of confidence and a run in the team may do him well.

The problem Liverpool have on their hands is this: over the summer, the club tried to build the team around Carroll when, in fact, it should have been built around Suarez.

It is as clear as daylight that the little Uruguayan needs a strike partner - unless Andy Carroll starts scoring - or Liverpool will continue to suffer in front of goal.

But who does Comolli bring in? Edinson Cavani of Napoli and Uruguay? Someone who links up so well with Suarez. I'd welcome Cavani to Anfield with open arms and a big hug.

In the absence of Steven Gerrard, Kenny Dalglish is effectively losing 10-20 goals a season from midfield and, so far, no one looks likely to step up in place of the skipper.

Charlie Adam gets forward plenty of times throughout matches, but he's not a lethal goalscorer. He's good for 5-10 goals, but that's about it. Lucas will never be a proper goalscoring threat - quite evidently.

It then comes down to the flanks where Stewart Downing has drifted in and out of games all season and has barely tested any goalkeepers. (The same could be said of Dirk Kuyt). It is fair to say he has been unlucky, though, striking the woodwork on more than one occasion. However, at £20 million, you'd expect a lot more from him.

Recently, there has been a lot of calls for Maxi to return to the starting line-up as he links up well with Suarez. I'd have to agree with this. When the two South Americans played together at the tail-end of last season, they looked excellent. Maxi even grabbed a few goals for himself.

My solution is Dalglish reverts to the tried-and-trusted 4-2-3-1 formation. Give Andy Carroll more of a chance to prove himself over the festive period and play Downing, Suarez and Maxi behind him. And until Gerrard returns, keep the Adam and Lucas partnership together.

Put keep the faith as the goals will flow. This may come across as criticism and put-downs to the team but it is not. The chances are being created, they just need to be put away.

Big Puck reports. A mixed weekend for the Chieftains

Big Puck reports as Chieftains have a mixed weekend. Thanks to Pete Lewis and all at the Chieftains for the reports.

It was a mixed weekend of results for the Chelmsford ice hockey teams as the Chieftains picked up 2 of 4 points on offer. After a long trip down to South Wales on Saturday night it was always going to be tough for the team to get into gear early on and so it proved as the first period ended all square at 2-2. The Chieftains and Devils traded goals with the Essex team’s goals coming from player-coach Gary Clarke and Ross Brears. After 2 periods neither side had been able to get any advantage going and it was all square at 3-3 with the Chieftains marker coming from Alan Green. Into the third and the Chieftains couldn't get into gear as the Devils stepped it up and ended up running out 7-4 winners.

Back in Essex the Warriors were in action against the Oxford City Stars B, but were able to overcome them comfortably 5-2 with Cameron Bartlett continuing his good form with 2 goals and the others coming from Rich Whiting, Steve Woodford and Ben Osborne. Former Superleague goalie Nathan Lawrence picked up the man of the match award after a fine display in goal for the Warriors.

Onto Sunday and the Wightlink Raiders were in town in an always intense affair at the Riverside. With both sides having fairly equal shares of play in the first, the Isle of Wight side took the lead through Stuart Tait to end the period with their noses in front. Joe Rand then put the Raiders 2-0 up and defeat was looking likely. However Clarke rallied his men and took control of the game and ran in 4 unanswered goals with Clarke netting twice, preceded by Michael Ranby and Danny Hammond scoring to tie the game up. Into the final period and the Chieftains were in complete control of the game despite the best efforts of the Raiders and Dominic Hopkins scoring, it ended 5-3 with Ross Brears scoring late on after the Raiders pulled their netminder for an extra skater in an attempt to tie the game up.

After the game Danny Hammond was presented with the Karen Bloomfield Memorial Award for the 'Player of the Month' for October after a series of outstanding displays.

Saturday 19th sees the Chieftains entertain Romford Raiders in the South East Cup which will surely be another tight and fiesty affair with the Raiders looking to take back bragging rights after losing their 13 game winning streak to the Chieftains a few short weeks ago. The Warriors on the other hand head south to the Isle of Wight to take on the Wightlink Tigers. Milton Keynes Thunder visit on Sunday night too to play the Chieftains.

WSN Basketball: Double trouble for the Wasps

Thanks to Dave Bushall and the guys at the Wasps for the following reports, covering the two games last weekend.

Hull Wasps failed to bounce back from last weekend's defeat against Burnley with a 74-56 defeat at Stockport Falcons.

A poor first half performance proved to be the ultimate downfall for the visiting Wasps as Stockport took complete control of the game. The Falcons took a 36-19 lead into the half-time interval.

Wasps managed to restore some pride in the second half by closing the gap in the third but it was all too late and ultimately failed to impact on the game.
Captain John Brignell was missing for the game and will also miss the game against Leeds Carnegie II tomorrow at the Bonus Arena, 6:30pm tip-off.

Matt Brutnell top-scored for the Wasps with 14 points, while James Rayner and Rob Birchmore contributed 12 and 8 points respectively.

Hull Wasps went down 86-67 to Division 3 Leeds Carnegie II in the National Shield on Sunday evening.

Leeds were always favourites but the Wasps put in a courageous performance but couldn't recover from a second-quarter run from the visitors.

Wasps held their own in the opening quarter but Leeds out-performed them in the second to open up a 17 point lead going into the half-time interval.

A very even second-half played out in front of the home crowd but the Wasps couldn’t bring themselves back into the game and Leeds claimed the spoils to head into the quarter-finals.

Following the weekend, Hull Wasps player-coach Matt Fawcett said: “We knew it would be a tough weekend against two top sides. So it proved.

“Stockport are undefeated but we felt confident going into the game that we could be the first team to beat them this season. We’re working harder each week and we have the players to go out there and perform each week.

“We’re making progress which is important and it was good to show that we can compete with the top teams, particularly with our performance on Sunday. There will be a game soon where we will start to click. A big win is on its way I’m sure.”

Adrian Blatherwick top scored for the Wasps with 28 points. James Rayner and Rob Birchmore scored 10 and 9 points respectively. Captain John Brignell missed the game but is set to return this Saturday against Mersey Tigers II at the Bonus Arena (5:30pm).

Sol y Futbol: Lanzarote return home with a point

Ian Lane reports from Tenerife, as Lanzarote come away with a point.

ATLÉTICO VICTORIA 0 LANZAROTE 0

The Rojillos will return from Tenerife with a point but their failure to score goals this season is proving to be their number one problem. 13 goals from 15 matches played says it all, with only one club with a worse statistic. On the other hand no other club in the league has a better defensive record than Lanzarote.

Some 0-0 draws don’t tell the full story with near misses, goal line clearances thrilling the paying public. This was not one of those games. The Rojillos will see this match as two points lost but in reality Lanzarote didn’t deserve any better after participating in a dour 90 minutes of football.

The balance of play in the opening 45 minutes was evenly balanced. The Rojillos were first to threaten from Venezuelan Alex Yunes whose strike was brilliantly tipped onto the post by the Tenerife keeper. The only other notable part of the first half was a counter attack by the home side in the 15th minute. Lanzarote´s defence was stretched which resulted in defender Tello forcing a good save from the Rojillos veteran keeper Santi Lampón.

If the supporters thought they had already seen the worst half of the match they were sorely mistaken as both teams managed to put on a worse performance in the second half. Ten minutes from time the locals dominated possession but didn’t create one clear chance. Finally the Ref blew for full time to the relief of what was left of the tired crowd.

Lanzarote host league leaders S.D. Tenisca next Sunday. The La Palma side are flying high with their in form striker Dani López amassing the same amount of goals as the entire Lanzarote squad and are sitting a full 10 points ahead of Lanzarote in the league table.

Sport and the First World War

On the eve of Remembrance Sunday we found this article by John Simkin, about sport and the First World War.

On the outbreak of the First World War some of Britain's leading sportsmen joined the British Army. This including Ronnie Poulton-Palmer, the captain of England's rugby team. Capped 17 times in a match against France in 1914 he scored four tries. He was also chairman of the Huntley and Palmer biscuit business in Reading.

Poulton-Palmer was killed at Ploegsteert Wood on 5th May, 1915. A fellow officer reported that when he went round the company at dawn "almost every man was crying". Poulton-Palmer was one of 26 England rugby international players killed in the war. A further 30 Scottish internationals also lost their lives during the conflict.

Tony Wilding was Wimbledon's singles champion four years running (1910, 1911, 1912, 1913). He also won the doubles final four times. In June, 1914, Wilding lost the men's singles final to Norman Brookes. On the outbreak of the war Wilding joined the Royal Naval Air Service. Tony Wilding was killed during an attack on enemy sniper posts at Neuve Chapelle on 9th May, 1915.

Frederick S. Kelly won the Diamond Sculls at Henley in 1902, 1903 and 1905. He was also a member of the gold winning team at the London Olympics in 1908. In 1915 he fought at Gallipoli and won the Distinguished Service Cross for conspicuous gallantry. Kelly was killed at Beaucourt-sur-Ancre on 13th November, 1916.

In 1912 Gerard Anderson broke the world record at the 440-yards hurdles. Later that year he took part in the Stockholm Olympics. Unfortunately he suffered a freak accident in the final and finished without a medal. Anderson went to France with the Cheshire Regiment and was killed in action at Hooge, near Ypres, on 9th November, 1914.

During the First World War 210 county cricketers served in the armed forces. Of these, 34 were killed. This included Percy Jeeves, an outstanding allrounder with Warwickshire, was killed at the Somme in July, 1916. He was immortalized when the author, P. G. Woodhouse, who had been a great fan of the cricketer, named Bertie Wooster's manservant Jeeves.

Kent's Colin Blythe, who took 100 wickets for England in 19 test matches. Blythe was killed at Passchendaele in November, 1917.

It was football that provided the most soldiers during the war. At the beginning of the 1914 football season, Hearts was Scotland's most successful team, winning eight games in succession. On 26th November, 1914, every member of the team joined the British Army. This event had a major impact on the public and inspired footballers and their fans to enlist. Many professional players, joined the 1st Football Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment.

Seven members of the Hearts team never returned to Scotland. Three of the men, Harry Wattie, Duncan Currie and Ernie Ellis, were killed on the first day of the Somme offensive. Another member of the team, 22 year old Paddy Crossan, was so badly injured that his right leg was labeled for amputation. He pleaded with the German surgeon not to operate. He told him: "I need my legs - I'm a footballer." He agreed to his request and managed to save his leg. Crossan survived the war but later died as a result of his lungs being destroyed by poison gas.

Donald Bell, a defender with Bradford City, became the first professional footballer to join the British Army. He enlisted as a private but by June, 1915 he had a commission in the Yorkshire Regiment. Two days after his marriage in November, 1915, he was sent to France.

Second Lieutenant Bell took part in the Somme offensive. On 5th July he stuffed his pockets with grenades and attacked an enemy machine-gun post. When he attempted to repeat this feat five days later he was killed. He was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his action of 5th July. It is the only one ever awarded to a professional footballer.

Jimmy Speirs played for Glasgow Rangers and Clyde before signing for Bradford City. He became captain and scored the only goal when the team won the FA Cup final against Newcastle United in 1911. The following year he joined Leeds United.

On the outbreak of the First World War Speirs he enlist in the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders. He was posted to France in March 1916. After winning the Military Medal for bravery in the field he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. Speirs was killed at Passchendaele on 20th August 1917.

Walter Tull, was another outstanding footballer who abandoned his career and offered his services to the British Army. Tull, who had played for and Northampton Town, joined the 1st Football Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment. The Army soon recognised Tull's leadership qualities and he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. In July 1916, Tull took part in the major Somme offensive. Tull survived this experience but in December 1916 he developed trench fever and was sent home to England to recover.

Tull had impressed his senior officers and recommended that he should be considered for further promotion. When he recovered from his illness, instead of being sent back to France, he went to the officer training school at Gailes in Scotland. Despite military regulations forbidding "any negro or person of colour" being an officer, Tull received his commission in May, 1917.

Lieutenant Tull was sent to the Italian front. This was an historic occasion because Tull was the first ever black officer in the British Army. He led his men at the Battle of Piave and was mentioned in dispatches for his "gallantry and coolness" under fire.

Walter Tull stayed in Italy until 1918 when he was transferred to France to take part in the attempt to break through the German lines on the Western Front. On 25th March, 1918, 2nd Lieutenant Tull was ordered to lead his men on an attack on the German trenches at Favreuil. Soon after entering No Mans Land Tull was hit by a German bullet. Tull was such a popular officer that several of his men made valiant efforts under heavy fire from German machine-guns to bring him back to the British trenches. These efforts were in vain as Tull had died soon after being hit. Tull's body was never found. Eleven former members of Tottenham Hotspur were killed during the war.

Gwrys Yn Kernow: Pirates enjoy cup win in Munster

Thank you to Brian Tempest for the photo and to Barry Coughlan, from the Irish Examiner, for the match report

Munster 6 Cornish Pirates 10

British & Irish Cup Round 3

Clonmel RFC

Friday 11th November 2011

The people of Ireland will be reading this report in the Irish Examiner this morning (Sat 12) and I have no doubt the travelling Pirates fans will have nothing but the greatest admiration for the hospitality and camaraderi of Clonmel Rugby Club and the people of clonmel.

Report thanks to: Barry Coughlan Courtesy Irish Examiner.

THE excitement hit fever pitch as this entertaining British and Irish Cup tie drew to a dramatic conclusion at wind swept Ard Na Gaoithe, Clonmel last night, Cornish Pirates snatching a fortuitous victory with an 80 th minute penalty try converted by Rob Cook.

It was a tough end for a Munster side that gave as good as they got throughout an exciting and hotly disputed contest. The penalty try was probably inevitable as Cornish Pirates piled on the pressure with a series of strong scrums that forced Munster to concede a succession of penalties before referee Ian Tempest finally lost patience.

But it shouldn't have come to that; the pressure exerted by the visitors in that sequence was isolated to just that few minutes of a second half dominated by Munster, although not always in the set pieces. Ironically, field position was conceded when Munster coughed up possession from their own line out throw. Set piece dominance ultimately won the day for the Pirates.

Munster coach Ian Costello was clearly disappointed, noting: “I thought we were in control and we had had chances to finish off the game, to get beyond the seven points lead we would have needed. What transpired should have been in our control but we lost more line outs than we would have expected, threw away a couple of loose passes in good attacking positions and turned over a couple of vital scrums. For all that, we could still have won.”

First chance fell to the visitors in ten minutes but Rob Cook's penalty attempt fell to the left and wide in the awkward wind conditions.

That wind was to play havoc, with both sides struggling to cope, particularly with kicks out of hand. Despite the mistakes, it was a keenly fought battle, with the Pirates perhaps not making best use of the wind at their backs and guilty of over-kicking on several occasions.

Munster were aggressive, both in defence and attack, where out half Scott Deasy was clever in his use of possession, although they were still unable to create any clear-cut opportunities. That was until Deasy's 35 th minute break, courtesy of the initial surge from Stephen Archer, and the out half opened up the Cornish defence. Rhodri McAtee's quick thinking saved the day when he got between Deasy and a scoring pass to Paddy Butler.

The opening points finally came after 39 minutes when Cook knocked over his second penalty attempt from close range.

Eight minutes into the second half, Munster came agonisingly close to grabbing the opening try, Deasy's dink fastened onto by JJ Hanrahan who was barely closed down as he raced clear. To make it worse, Deasy sent a resultant penalty to the right and wide.

Still, Munster cranked up the pressure and they were rewarded with a 54 th minute penalty that Deasy kicked from right in front of the posts as the Pirates strayed offside and substitute Blair Crowan was shown yellow.

Further pressure deservedly yielded another score, with Deasy again kicking the points from an easy angle and short distance for a 6-3 lead. It was no less than Munster deserved and they kept on searching for the elusive try, Billy Holland's pass inside to Ronan O'Mahony going astray with a try looking certain in the 66 th minute.

Sadly for them, it all fell apart in those closing seconds.

MUNSTER:

L O'Dea, R O'Mahony, T Gleeson, JJ Hanrahan, S Zebo, S Deasy, P Stringer, D Kilcoyne, S Henry, S Archer, M O'Driscoll, I Nagle, B Holland (captain), P Butler, T O'Donnell.
Replacements. D Casey for Henry (injured, 28), C Hircock for O'Dea (injured, 40), D Williams for Stringer (56), D Foley for Nagle (62). Temporary, C Condon for Kilcoyne (injured, 67-72)

CORNISH PIRATES.

M Evans, R McAtee, D Locke, S Hill, D Doherty, R Cook, T Kessell, R Storer, D Ward, C Rimmer, L McGlone, I Nimmo, C Moran (captain), K Marriott, C Walker-Blair.
Replacements. B Cowan for Walker-Blair (50), P Andrew for Storer (63), P. Burgess for Marriott (68).
Referee. I Tempest (England)

March to the Arch 3: Hatters beat the Cobblers - it's true

Going into 1st Round of the Budweiser sponsored F.A.Cup, Luton Town carried the hopes of Sports Pulse in March to the Arch 3. In what we have named the Monty Panesar Trophy, The Hatters overcame Northampton Town. We have questions from our overseas followers to explain, the Monty Panesar Trophy. Well Monty is an international cricketer, he played for Northamptonshire and is from Luton – there done. Match report, with thanks, from ESPN Soccernet.

Luton Town 1 Northampton Town 0

Luton substitute Adam Watkins was the star of the show as he scored five minutes after coming on to send the Blue Square Bet Premier side through to the FA Cup second round 1-0 at the expense of Northampton.

League Two Northampton were left to rue a number of early second-half misses as Luton squeezed through to the next round by the narrowest of margins.

This feisty derby had everything apart from goals in the first-half with two Luton penalty claims turned down and a disallowed goal for the visitors.

Luton skipper George Pilkington was guilty of wasting the best chance when he somehow headed Ashley Westwood's free-kick wide from six yards.

The Hatters' first penalty shout came after 10 minutes when Michael Jacobs left a leg dangling, while 20 minutes later referee Andy D'Urso also turned down a shove on Amari Morgan-Smith.

Northampton responded and Adebayo Akinfenwa might have opened the scoring in the 20th minutes, but his header was brilliantly saved by Kevin Pilkington.
The Cobblers' on-loan West Brom star Saido Berahino swept home only for the strike to be ruled out for offside.

After 64 minutes the lively Berahino showed his class for Luton, turning sharply before bringing a great reaction save out of Sam Walker with a delightful chip.
Northampton's John Kissock then somehow headed over from a corner unmarked six-yards out.

The Hatters were sensing their chance and began to build the pressure at the other end.

And with 10 minutes to play it was a half-chance taken with aplomb that won the tie for Luton.

Watkins reacted to a loose ball and buried a ferocious left footed effort low into the corner from the edge of the box.

Northampton rallied bravely and still managed to carve out a few chances in the closing minutes, Michael Jacob's and Akinfenwa coming close but it proved to be in vain.

Paul 'Cloughie' Clarks Man of the Match - Andy D'Urso

Big Puck reports: CUP CAMPAIGN BEGINS WITH DEFEAT

Thanks to Pete and the team at Chelmsford for the report.

It was a disappointing start to the South East Cup campaign for the Chieftains against a resurgent Invicta Dynamos on Sunday night. Slipping to a 2-0 deficit before the end of the first period, the Chieftains were always up against it and despite some valiant efforts from the players, they were unable to break down Andy Moffat in the Dynamos net who was playing one of the games of his life.

Andy Smith and Ryan Ellis combined in the first period with both getting on the scoresheet, thanks to an assist from the other. A quiet second period saw the scores remain the same, despite some scares at both ends. The game also had it's fair share of flare-ups, but no gloves were dropped though and the officials just about kept a lid on things. The Chieftains were taking control of the game now and managed to pepper Moffat's goal with 20 shots in the second session, to only 9 on Ben Clements at the other end.

Into the third and the Chieftains stamped their authority on the game and a Danny Hammond goal at 50:38 on the powerplay gave the travelling fans hope that something could be gained from this match, but less than 2 minutes later Justin Noble restored the home sides 2 goal advantage. Back came the Chieftains though and Dwayne Newman scored again with only 4 seconds left, but needless to say it was to no avail and the side ended up losing 3-2.

James Ayling took home the man of the match beers, while former Chieftain Moffat took the award for the home side.

Player-coach Gary Clarke said after the game "It's disappointing, especially after last weeks win over Romford, to lose to Invicta. We worked hard and were always in the game, but things just didn't go our way and we didn't get the bounce at times and ultimately we were to lose out. We'll go back in training and try and work on some things which I felt we struggled with tonight and things that didn't go according to plan and we'll bounce back. There's enough character in the side to do so and I'm confident when we go to Cardiff on Saturday and Wightlink come and visit on Sunday we'll be ready for them".

Back in Essex it was a goal fest as the second string Warriors ran out 10-7 winners over a lacklustre Swindon ENL Wildcats. Cameron Bartlett notched 4 goals, while Richie Whiting ran in 3 with single markers coming from Gary Brown, Reece Covington and Paul Merchant. Bartlett also won man of the match for his 4 goal haul.

WSN Basketball: Wasps burnt by the Blaze

Thanks to the guys at the Wasps for the update.

Hull Wasps 64 Burnley Blaze 85

Hull Wasps went down 85-64 to league title favourites Burnley Blaze at the Bonus Arena on Saturday evening. In an early evening game, the Wasps fell behind early on and were always playing catch up within the game. In the end, Malcolm Leak's youthful side took control of the game and went away from the Bonus Arena with the 2 points.

"Burnley are a quality side. We've always known that" said Wasps player-coach Matt Fawcett after the game.

"We've worked hard this week knowing of the challenge we had but we fell short. At points in the game we brought ourselves back into it. We're a skilful team but found it hard to match their fitness and we were punished in the end because of that.

"We'll bounce back again and continue to push for the play-offs. We have the quality in this side and we'll work even harder to try and achieve our goals this season."

John Brignell top-scored for the Wasps with 19 points, Adrian Blatherwick came second with 11.

Sol y Futbol: Lanzarote 4 points of play-off place

Ian Lane reports from Arrecife as Lanzarote win two on the bounce. The Rojillos are heading back to towards the play-off places.



LANZAROTE 1 LAS ZOCAS 0

Six points out of six for the Rojillos pushes them back up to mid table and only four points off the play off places following a second half penalty converted by sub Ayoze Pérez.

Prior to the match the Lanzarote squad had been pushed to its bare minimum. With only 18 registered first team players and with three out due to suspension as well as Toñito being disciplined by the club for doing a Tevez the week before and another two players injured, the Rojillos were forced to draft in regional and junior players. The makeshift team produced a solid display and deservedly claimed all three points.

The Rojillos began the match positively controlling possession and looking to break down the five man Tenerife defence. Rosmen forced Las Zocas goalkeeper into a good save in the 11th minute but even with the lion’s share of possession the Conejeros failed as they have done all season to turn their domination into goals.
The visitors slowly began to enter into the game and in the 37th minute striker Kike tried his luck from 25 yards with a wonder strike, the ball seemed destined for the top left hand corner as soon as it left his boot but the 39 year old Lanzarote keeper Santi Lampón produced an amazing finger tip save at full stretch which pushed the ball onto the bar and away for a corner. The first half ended as stalemate with the Rojillos just edging the match.

Las Zocas began the second half the much better of the two sides and had two clear opportunities to take the lead within the opening five minutes. Midfielder Manu had a clear strike at goal in the second minute but saw his effort fly straight into the body of the Lanzarote keeper. Two minutes later and the same player delivered a fine cross from the right to the far post and Cristo Marrero´s header flew off the top of the crossbar and away for a goal kick.

After these opening second half minute scares the Rojillos restored their control of the match and with the introduction of the talented Ayoze Pérez were looking the most likely to open the scoring. In the 64th minute Lanzarote striker Echedey was clearly brought down and the Ref did not hesitate in ordering for a spot kick. Ayoze who had only been on the park two minutes stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way by firing low into the bottom left hand corner giving his side a 1-0 lead.

The balance of play did not alter after the goal as the Rojillos remained in charge. It was only in the final minutes when Las Zocas went in search of a leveller but were met by a stubborn and well organised Rojillo defence that kept their visitors at bay.

Next week Lanzarote travel to Tenerife to take on fifth from bottom side Club Atlético Victoria.

GOALS
1-0 min 65 Ayoze Pérez (penalty)

Becks, Keano and the Galaxy into MLS Final

Thank you to our friends at CNN for providing the report and picture. Beck, Keano the Galaxy and his wife now face Houston in the MLS Championship final. Will NASA sponsor the game?

Los Angeles Galaxy reached Major League Soccer's (MLS) championship match on Sunday after a 3-1 defeat of Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference final.

The Galaxy, two-time MLS Cup winners, reached the deciding game for a record seventh time thanks to goals from captain Landon Donovan, American Mike Magee and Ireland striker Robbie Keane in front of their home fans at the Home Depot Center.

Manager Bruce Arena's Galaxy will face Houston Dynamo in the post-season's final match, after Dynamo beat Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference final.

The final, which will take place at the Home Depot Center, could be midfielder David Beckham's last match for Los Angeles, with the former England captain's contract expiring at the end of the season.

But Beckham, 36, is focused only on the upcoming match with Dynamo, after playing in the MLS Cup 2009 when the Galaxy were beaten by Real Salt Lake in a penalty shoot-out.

We know that there is one more game to go so we're not getting carried away

David Beckham"We're happy to be winning the Western final, but we know that there is one more game to go so we're not getting carried away," the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star told the league's official website.

"We did that a couple of years ago and we paid for it. We didn't win the MLS Cup final, so hopefully this will be something that we're happy to win [on Sunday], but we know that we've got one more game."

David Beckham Galaxy went ahead on 23 minutes when Donovan, 29, converted a penalty after Andy Williams' push on Omar Gonzalez.

Dynamo responded almost immediately, striker Alvaro Saborio scoring with a close-range header to equalize after 25 minutes.

Beckham, capped 115 times by England, helped Galaxy regain the lead on 58 minutes, his pin-point cross headed home by Magee.

Former Tottenham and Liverpool forward Keane secured the win for Galaxy with 22 minutes remaining, wriggling free of his marker before firing a low shot beyond Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimandi.

Dynamo needed second half goals from defender Andre Hainault and forward Carlos Costly to see off the challenge of Sporting Kansas City in front of a record crowd at Livestrong Sporting Park.

The 16th MLS Cup final will complete the 2011 season and will be played on Sunday November 20.

World in Union: Review of Aviva Premiership Round 8

With thanks to our friends at Aviva, for supplying details of Round 8. Aviva, insurance providers for a wide range of cover. Contact them direct for the best prices in insurance. Aviva, not available on comparison websites.

ROUND 8

Harlequins maintained a 100% record in Aviva Premiership Rugby to take them into European competition in top form and sitting pretty at the top of the table. Saracens continue to apply the pressure in second place, while Gloucester and Irish have both moved up the table after impressive displays away from home.

Full highlights of every Aviva Premiership Rugby game are now available free through Premiership Rugby TV from 36 hours after the final whistle. Register now and you can watch every game as it becomes available. (Highlights are available exclusively to premium site users for the first 36 hours after each match, after which time they become free to all registered users).
On Friday night Newcastle Falcons snatched a dramatic draw in their Aviva Premiership Rugby battle with Worcester Warriors at Kingston Park. The Falcons were trailing 16-9 with three minutes to go and looking to have been defeated by the Warriors when suddenly the Newcastle pack found another gear and drove Mike Mayhew over for a try which Jimmy Gopperth converted to level the score. Final score: Newcastle Falcons 16, Worcester Warriros 16.

On Saturday Harlequins maintained their winning ways as tries from Chris Robshaw and Mike Brown helped them to victory at Bath’s Recreation Ground. The league leaders, who now have a 100% record after eight games, made a slow start but eventually assumed control of the contest as they gained the upper-hand at the scrum, line-out and breakdown. Final score: Bath Rugby 13, Harlequins 26.

Over at Sandy Park, Gloucester Rugby claimed their first away win since February after running in three tries over Exeter Chiefs. Fly-half Freddie Burns grabbed an early try and kicked nine more points, while Akapusi Qera and Olly Morgan also crossed the try-line for the visitors. Despite scoring tries through Hoani Tui and Matt Jess it wasn’t to be Exeter’s match. Final score: Exeter Chiefs 19, Gloucester Rugby 24.

At Welford Road, London Irish produced a stunning fightback to grab a dramatic draw against Leicester Tigers. From a seemingly hopeless position at 24-7 inside the final 20 minutes, the Exiles dug deep to claw back the deficit. Tries came from Horacio Agulla for the Tigers and Shontayne Hape, Adam Thompstone and Matt Garvey. Final score: Leicester Tigers 24, London Irish 24.

On Sunday at Adams Park prop forwards Soane Tong’uiha and Brian Mujati scored the tries which powered Northampton Saints to their fifth successive victory at Wasps. England centre Riki Flutey and lock Ross Filipo scored for the hosts, but with fly half Ryan Lamb kicking 14 points for Saints it was the visitors who stretched their recent run to three wins in Aviva Premiership Rugby. Final score: London Wasps 13, Northampton Saints 24.

At Vicarage Road Saracens kept up the pressure on Aviva Premiership Rugby table-toppers Harlequins with a comfortable win at home to Sale Sharks. David Strettle and Matt Stevens chalked up two converted tries for the hosts while Owen Farrell kicked three penalties on top. Sale scored two second half tries courtesy of Rob Miller and Mark Easter but the match always belonged to the home side. Final score: Saracens 23, Sale Sharks 10.

Sol y Futbol: At last a win for Lanzarote

Ian sent us this report on the midweek game, we will receive the report from today’s game at some point tomorrow. So a double helping of Sol y Futbol.



C.D. CHARCO DEL PINO 0 LANZAROTE 2

A goal in each half was enough to see the Rojillos claim their first away victory of the season albeit against the league’s bottom club Lanzarote dominated the majority of the match but the Tenerife side almost took the lead in the 10th minute. A corner was met by defender Airám whose header was goal bound until Rojillos midfielder Sixto cleared the danger on the goal line.

Lanzarote then began to pile on the pressure; striker Rosmen forced a good save from the keeper then in the 35th minute the Rojillos found a way through. Echedey passed a short corner kick to Ángel Gil, the defender curled in a cross into the six yard area which was met by centre back Carlos Rosa who stroked the ball home via a deflection off a defender giving his side a 0-1 advantage.

In their last two matches the Rojillos have taken the lead only to lose on both occasions so the Lanzarote manager Fabián Rivero, was still unable to breathe a sigh of relief. Lanzarote pressed for the remainder of the first half but could not find the second goal cushion. The teams headed into the interval with Lanzarote just a single goal to the good.

Ten minutes into the second half and Rosmen struck a post with an effort. The Lanzarote striker broke his goal scoring drought a few days earlier but the jinx seems to continue as last season’s leading goal scorer hit the woodwork for the umpteenth time in this campaign.

Nevertheless, the Rojillos dominated as the visitors posed little threat but the game was only put to bed in the second minute of stoppage time. The Rojillos broke from a Charco del Pino attack and striker Alex Yunes tucked the ball away to guarantee all three points making the final score 0-2.

A welcome victory for the Rojillos but again the problem of not finishing off their chances was evident. Centre forward Alex Yunes is now the clubs top scorer this season with just three goals following his injury time strike. The two top clubs in the league have both scored more than double what the Rojillos have managed though defensively only two other teams have a better record than the Lanzarote.

This Sunday Lanzarote are at home with a 12 noon kick off against Las Zocas. The Tenerife side are in 8th place, three points above the Rojillos.

GOALS
0-1min 35 Carlos Rosa
0-2min 92 Alex Yunes

Kult & Punk: St Pauli top of the table score draw

The boys were still recovering from the previous weekend to really notice this game. A score draw was probably a fair result. All the talk was about last weekends set by the Black Finger Nails. Will the boys be on the case?

FC St. Pauli 2-2 Greuther Fürth

Just like their league positions there wasn't much between St. Pauli and Greuther Fürth as they shared the spoils thanks to a last-gasp equalizer from Olivier Occean. Christopher Nöthe's opened the scoring with a toe-poke, goals from second half substitutes Dennis Daube and Mahir Saglik pulled Pauli back into it, but Occean's eighth goal of the season rescued a point for Fürth who had a man sent off late on.

The importance of the match was only proven by the edgy start both teams endured with neither side able to find an early rhythm in the encounter. Sercan Serarer found space early on to force a fine save out of Philipp Tschauner with the keeper clawing the ball out of the top corner. The intensity in the match led to constant fouling, which limited the goal scoring opportunities at either end. Dennis Naki was proving to be Pauli's biggest threat up front, but six yards out, couldn't find the target from Fin Bartel's cross.

Action aplenty

Markus Thorandt followed suit soon after, but it was Fürth's efficiency that told once again just before half-time. Heinrich Schmidtgal picked out an inch-perfect pass for Nöthe to run onto and, through on goal, the striker made no mistake toe-poking the ball under Tschauner and into the bottom corner (44'). The hosts stepped it up in the second half and found a way through soon after the restart. A flowing move in transition saw Fabian Boll play in Daube, who had come on at the break, and the midfielder kept his composure to slip the ball under Max Grün (54').

With the wind in Pauli's sails Naki's snapshot kept Grün on his toes, but it was his replacement, super-sub Saglik who gave Pauli the lead when Thomas Kleine committed himself to ground allowing the striker to cut inside and find the far corner (75'). Fürth were reduced to ten men late on when Milorad Pekovic picked up a second bookable offence for catching Saglik late (81'). Bernd Nehrig hit the post with a cross-cum-shot, but Fürth snatched a point when Teyfun Pektürk broke down the right to ping the ball into the box where Occean got the final touch to level things up at the death (90').

We will remember them.

As we approach this weekend, as always, our title heading for the blog will revert to black. To honour those, who have lost their lives serving for their country. Men and Women who have paid the ultimate price and who showed remarkable courage and bravery in and beyond their call of duty.

We will remember them.

We will also black the heading for those who lost their lives and were injured in the horrific crash on the M5 this weekend. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and the family and friends of all those involved. We would also like to mention the emergency services, who once again displayed fantastic professionalism and courage and to those involved who showed extreme bravery.

Many of us will have lost people throughout the year, so the blackened heading is also in memory of them.

For those of you wanting different type of poppies, please visit the website www.poppy.org.uk

Gwrys Yn Kernow: Pirates are top after Titanic victory

Match report taking in full and with thanks from www.cornish-pirates.com. Match report supplied by Woll and picture by Simon Bryant.

Sports:Pulse will pay tribute to those who have lost their lives serving their country through the week, as we approach Remembrance Sunday. We would like to add to the many who have offered their thoughts and prayers, to those who died and were injured and their family and friends, on the horrific crash on the M5 on Friday evening.

Cornish Pirates 30 Rotherham Titans 13

RFU Championship Round 10

Sunday 6th November

Woll's Match Report

The cloudless skies and perfect late autumn weather, proved the ideal foil for the performance of the season so far by the Pirates; whose efforts justly earned them the right to end the day sitting at the top of the Championship pile. Few in attendance would have confidently predicted such as they silently paid tribute in Remembrance and so many other recent sadness.

It was an incisive showing which combined pace and control; particularly in the first half, that punished a Titans side who’s form coming into this match threatened an awful lot more.

Their coach Andre Bester had played down Rotherham’s renaissance perhaps a little too queasily in the lead up to the clash; preferring instead to compare the hosts with something called the X Factor. And yet the blood-curdling close season culling had clearly done some good, otherwise, how would the men from Clifton Lane be seriously looking at returning oop north as league leaders themselves?
After a promising opening 5-10 minutes for the Titans that didn’t really threaten much, it was the Pirates who seized the initiative thinking that Pointer had done the business over in the Nursery Corner. A forward pass by Locke erasing that particular celebration but not for long.

Two tries in the opening half hour from the eventual man of the match Doherty, had Dickinson and his cohorts coming up for air way too soon; and provided the lynch pin for what was to unfold. Their huge pack regretted no doubt the early ambition to try and run the ball out of their own 22 on both occasions, in the face of some aggressive Cornish tackling, intent on doing their defending on Titans soil.
Jonny Bentley’s involvement in all things attacking; particularly for the first try and his so subtle grubber in the Old Western National Corner; is worthy of a mention in dispatches and an article in its own right. Not that Thomas’s response after his introduction in the second half, was any less notable. The luxury of having such two fine stand-offs is mouth-watering as they and their team mates look to be straining at the leashes.

A trademark sniping try by Cattle provided the filling of the flying winger’s sandwiching brace; whilst Cook and Law traded goals to complete the scoring as Mr Gamage appeared to be gasping for his half time refreshment, whistling as he did pretty sharpish with clock still ticking through the seconds of the final minute of the half. (20-6)
Amply re-hydrated,
the officials and combatants returned to the fray as the conditions continued to add to the relaxed feeling in the stands. A feeling that roused the crowd like not before this season, as the Pirates continued where they left off at the start of the second period.

This early endeavour however produced no further points despite further pace and power, a point not lost on the visitors who carved an opportunity of their own to get right back into the game with half an hour remaining.

A huge penalty touch finder by Law, created the platform. From which Taulava swatted through some backs in Pirate colours after it seemed the threat had been doused. Law then added the extras to make it a seven point game.

Yorkshire hopes were not last as another near miss by Pointer signalled the writing was being scribbled on the wall by Ceiron who cultured right peg was causing all sorts of problems.

One such befell Foden, as the full back was caught all at sea by the bounce just inside his own 22. The Welsh fly half then played further part in this latest ‘nail’, with a delicious miss-pass to Locke who was flying down the left wing at exactly the right time. Drewe had little option then but to finish his run under the posts and all but seal the Titan’s fate as the final quarter hove onto the horizon.

A solitary Cook penalty with ten minutes left did the rest, to pack the league leaders off on to their travels for the next three weeks. Rotherham meanwhile perhaps pondered a final restful few minutes on the Promenade wall, before boarding their coach and the long journey back to lick their wounds.

Cornish Pirates
15 R. Cook 14 G. Pointer (22 R McAtee 64mins) 13 D. Locke 12 A. Suniula (18 P. Burgess 74 mins) 11 D. Doherty 10 J. Bentley (21 C. Thomas 56mins) 9 G. Cattle (capt) (20 T. Kessell 74 mins) 8 B. Maidment (19 B. Cowan 78mins) 7 C. Morgan 6 D. Ewers 5 I. Nimmo 4 L. McGlone 3 C. Rimmer (L. Fairbrother 56mins) 2 D. Ward (17 R. Elloway 67mins) 1 R. Storer (3 C. Rimmer 74 mins)
Replacements: all used
Tries: Doherty 2, Cattle, Locke
Cons: Cook 2
Pens: Cook 2


Rotherham Titans
15 T. Foden 14 E. Tellwright 13 S. Hamilton (22 C. Hodgson 62 mins) 12 P. Nonu 11 S. Monahan 10 G. Law 9 M. Rhodes (21 J. Williams HT) 8 S. Taulava 7 S. Dougall 6 R. Copeland 5 B. Maddison (19 A. Griffiths 44mins) 4 S. Dickinson (capt) 3 R. O'Donnell 2 D. Baines 1 S. Cahill (17 J. Kilbane HT)

Replacements: un-used 16 T. Stagg, 18 R. Stout, 20 C. Kirwan
Tries: Taulava
Cons: Law
Pens: Law 2


Match Officials
Referee: Darren Gamage (RFU
Assistants: Paul Kimber & Richard Parker-Sedgemore
Man of the Match: David Doherty
Attendance: 2506

Let us introduce: Access Sport

As you know last month we started our Let Us Introduce feature. Let us introduce highlights the work of charities and community projects helping society through sport. Our own strap line ‘Sport Inspires – be part of it’, although directed at our corporate partners, points to our belief of the importance in providing sporting facilities and opportunity to all. Sport brings structure and pride to the younger members of a community. These projects are important and the threat to their existence is wrong. It is cheaper to fund projects, similar to the ones below, than to pay for the consequences of our youth drifting into crime and drugs. It is cheaper to fund these projects to improve health than to treat illness resulting in lack of exercise.

Let us introduce Access Sport

Founded in 2004 Access Sport is a dynamic charity whose mission is to give more children, particularly in disadvantaged areas, access to a wide range of quality local sport. We look to harness the proven power of sport to tackle social exclusion, inactivity and obesity in areas where help is most needed. We achieve this through empowering the inspirational community volunteers who set up and run local sports clubs with cash, expert advice and networking to help create thriving clubs which get more people positively engaged.

Access Sport began it’s first club partnership in 2005. By January 2007 Access Sport had 31 clubs and had attracted 650 new young participants and by the end of 2009 we had achieved:

• 115 partner clubs across 21 sports

• 16,000 children with improved access to sport

o 3,300 new children participating regularly at clubs

o 7,000 children at SportsJAMs

o 5,340 children already at clubs improved by Access Sport

• 1,000 at new club-school sessions

• 20,000 people attending 7 SportsJAMs

• 400 new coaching qualifications paid for

• 150,000 people with raised awareness of local sports opportunities

Our current Legacy Programme aims to have achieved the following by 2013:

• Provision of a tangible, lasting legacy in the Olympic Host Boroughs of East London (Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Greenwich) and Bristol.

• Development of 75 clubs

o 50 London clubs

o 25 Bristol Clubs

• 9,000 new you people engaged in regular sports club participation

• 450 newly qualified coaches

• 450 new club volunteers

• Increased youth development opportunities through our Youth Development Legacy Project

• Increased disability provision at our clubs through our Disability Legacy Project

• Delivery of 5 new BMX tracks and clubs in each of the Olympic boroughs through our BMX Legacy Project

• Increased regular female sports participation through our Active Women project

Realising the potential of community sports clubs

• We focus our financial support and advice on boosting the youth sections of community sport clubs in the UK’s most deprived areas.

• We work with inspirational club leaders who believe in the power of sport to
help transform young lives but who lack the support to make the most of their clubs.

• Community sports clubs provide a vehicle for regular and sustained participation with built-in pathways for progression.

• Linking clubs effectively into NGB and local authority support networks and developing club-school links is crucial.
Our model for community sports club development

• We focus on three key 'pillars' of club development: Growth, Sustainability and Youth Development

• Access Sport’s local project manager draws on local knowledge and face to face meetings to select the right clubs and, crucially, the right club leaders who have the motivation and potential to grow the youth sections of their clubs.

• Each club then works face to face with our project manager to create a bespoke development plan over two years. Utilising £4,000 each club increases participation, reaches out to local kids, families and schools, increases capacity by creating new coaches and volunteers.

• Our projects address the key barriers to participation by subsidising participation fees, providing free equipment, raising awareness of local sports opportunities, linking the club to local initiatives and to the NGBs and Sport England for long term support.

• Particular focus is on bringing through local youngsters to give them the opportunity to learn coaching, life and management skills which improve their employability.

• Our work across a range of sports creates a new generation of community serving, youth focused clubs, giving genuine choice in deprived areas where access to opportunities in general, and to sport in particular, is poor.

• Good community clubs create the bridge into both regular year-round and adult participation which a pure schools led approach cannot achieve. Clubs also reach out to those who may be alienated from the school system.

• In many cases we have helped clubs to double participation and more.

Our Projects

Our current Legacy Programme is to develop 75 clubs (50 in London and 25 in Bristol) by 2013 creating a successful and transferrable 'blueprint' for club development in deprived urban areas. Our Legacy Programme aims to engage 9,000 new young people regularly in club sport and qualify 450 new coaches and 450 new volunteers and includes the following projects:

• Active Women Project (in partnership with Sport England): aiming to increase female participation in community sports.

• Disability Legacy Project (in partnership with The Peter Harrison Foundation): aiming to increase clubs provisions to attract more disabled members.

• Youth Development Legacy Project (in partnership with Comic Relief): aiming to help young people develop and gain key life and employability skills through their community sports club.

• BMX Legacy Project (in partnership with local boroughs): aiming to create a fully equipped BMX club and track in each of the five London Olympic boroughs.

• Business Mentoring Project: aiming to enhance club development, impact and sustainability through matching teams of corporate mentors with community sports clubs.

To find out more about Access Sport and to donate visit their website www.accesssport.org.uk

WSN Basketball: Wasps slay the Dragons.

Thanks to Dave Bushall and all at the Wasps for this report.

Bradford Dragons II 81 Hull Wasps 85

Hull Wasps travelled to Bradford Dragons II on Saturday afternoon and came away with all 2 points with a tense finish to the game.

The Wasps made a better start to the game than they have done in recent weeks and took an early 17-14 lead to close the first quarter.

The home side came out after the break though and got the better of the visiting Wasps in the second-period, taking a 1 point lead at half-time, 40-39.
The Wasps just edged the third period and took a 62-61 lead going into the final-quarter.

It always looked as though it was going to be close conclusion with only a small margin to win it, and so it proved. The visiting Wasps were up by 1 with just seconds remaining in the game. Bradford came forward but missed their opportunity to take the lead by turning over possession to the Wasps, only for player-coach Matt Fawcett to score a long-range 3-point buzzer beater to give the Wasps a 4 point win.

Following the game, coach Fawcett said: "It was a tough win for the guys today. Those games are tricky and in previous seasons, we've more often been on the losing end of those. It was good to get the win and we'll keep looking to build on this.
We have Burnley at home next weekend and that will be our toughest test so far. For me, Burnley are probably the favourites for the league title this year so we have to go away and work even harder before next week."

John Brignell top-scored for the Wasps once again with 26 points. Adrian Blatherwick scored 20.

Big Puck reports: Pitbulls tamed and Raiders beaten

Big Puck reports on Chelmsford Chieftains, Essex premier Ice Hockey' team, successful weekend. With thanks to Pete Lewis and all at the Chieftains.

It had to happen sooner or later and on Sunday night at the Riverside it did! Romford Raiders were on an amazing run of 14 wins, including the only defeat of the Chieftains this season, but that all came crashing down at the hands of Gary Clarke and his men. Chelmsford put themselves 2 up inside 7 minutes through Danny Hammond and Clarke. Hammond's goal was the end product of a great display of puck control from Ross Brears who ended up feeding Hammond to slot home past Michael Gray. Clarke then took advantage of a defensive lapse to double the Chieftains advantage. Romford showed why they are the Chieftains's biggest challengers moments later when former Chelmsford star Matt Turner scored past Chelmsford man of the match David Wride. That was it for scoring until 33:31 when Romford player/coach Danny Marshall netted to tie the game up and put the 1000+ crowd on the edge of their seats. Less than 4 minutes later though Clarke had made it 3-2 after goalmouth scramble that saw Andrius Kaminskas of Romford leave the ice injured.

Into the third and things began to heat up quickly as Romford seemed to be more intent on playing a physical game rather than trying to win the encounter and the Chieftains took advantage as Clarke completed his hat-trick with a blast from the blue-line when the home side were on the powerplay. With just under 10minutes to play Romford bad boy Billy Phillips was called for a 2 minute cross-checking minor penalty, but ended up talking himself into a 10 minute misconduct and a further game misconduct that would see him take no further part in the game.

While this was going on in Essex, the Chelmsford second side Warriors were in Kent taking on Invicta Mustangs and they narrowly lost 4-3 with the Warriors goals coming from Richard Whiting, Ricky Mills and Paul Merchant.

Saturday night saw the Chieftains complete a routine win in Bristol as they tamed the Pitbulls with a convincing 8-2 result. Tom Long set the ball rolling, quickly followed up by Alan Green netting and Dwayne Newman scored late on in the period to put the visitors 3-2 up after one period. 3 goals in the second period from Jakub Klima times 2 and Clarke had the Essex side 6-2 ahead and looking convincing. With the game over as a contest it was left to Hammond and Long to round out the scoring and for Long to pick up the man of the match award.

Bench coach Sean Easton said of the results "They speak for themselves really. We're sitting top of the table and all the talk back from Bristol was about the Romford game and how we would be able to beat them. We knew we couldn't rise to the intimidation games they were playing and we did that well and kept our heads and won the game. We're top of the league and points clear and it's up to us to maintain our place".

Next Games

Chieftains

AWAY: Sunday 6th November @ Invicta Dynamos 17:30 (South East Cup)
HOME: Sunday 13th November V Wightlink Raiders 18:30

WARRIORS

HOME: Sunday 6th November V Swindon ENL Wildcats 18:30

Rugby League welcome back London Broncos

As you know Harlequins RL have rebranded and returned to being known as the London Bronco’s. Below is the official statement and a brief history of the nomadic club. Come on London, follow rugby league in the summer. If you can’t make it West, follow the superb London Skolers in Tottenham or Hainault Bulldogs in Dagenham. This post was taking in full and with thanks from www.londonbroncosrl.com.

The rebranded Bronco’s

Following extensive research with input and assistance from our army of loyal fans and supporters we have today announced that we are changing our name and rebranding the club back to be London Broncos Rugby League.

For those of you unfamiliar with our chequered history here is a brief recap. The London-based rugby league team originally became known as the Broncos when the Australian club, the Brisbane Broncos, took over the then Second Division side, London Crusaders in 1994. In 1996 the Broncos were included in the newly formed Super League and went to play in south east London at The Valley, home of Charlton Athletic. After a season they moved to The Stoop and in 1997 the Virgin Group became the majority shareholder. In 1999 the London Broncos played in the last ever Challenge Cup final at the old Wembley Stadium and subsequently returned to The Valley with current Chairman David Hughes purchasing a majority shareholding. By 2002 they had moved back to west London to play at Brentford's Griffin Park and three years later a re-structuring of the club saw them become Harlequins RL with The Stoop once again as their home.

Chairman David Hughes commented: "I am delighted that we are returning to be the London Broncos. It is a name that resonates with success on the pitch and that is what we want to achieve next season.

"I have committed to the club definitely for the next three years during this Super League license period and we will work hard to retain that in three years' time and become a club to be reckoned with both on and off the pitch."

The new brand uses elements of the original design, updating the model to reflect the contemporary and premium vision of the club. The home kit is predominantly black with a bright blue trim while the away kit reverses this design with a bright blue strip trimmed with black. The colour scheme is very striking so as to make an impression both on and off the pitch.

Gus Mackay, Chief Executive added: "It took a lot of work to get to where we are, but we are really happy with the results and are all excited about the future as London Broncos.

"We engaged with fans and stakeholders and included as many people as possible in the rebrand process so as to take on board everybody's views. The fans and players mostly pointed towards a return to the London Broncos and their ideas are reflected within the brand concept.
"We needed to make a change
to our name for various reasons. This relaunch provides us with a unique opportunity to target a new audience and raise awareness of our club as well as that of Super League in London. We are committed to making Super League a success story in London and this is a key part of that campaign.

"As a club we are committed to delivering a brand our fans are proud of both on and off the pitch and this rebrand is the start of that."

As you can see the rebrand is complemented by a brand new website, elements of which you see here. This will continue to develop over the coming months with new features and additions which will be fully built and implemented in time for the start of the 2012 season.

Alongside the website there are new Twitter and Facebook offerings to enable the club to engage more easily with its fans and supporters. So make sure you check us out by visiting: www.londonbroncosrl.com/facebook and following us on twitter @londonbroncosrl.

Rob Powell, London Broncos Rugby League Head Coach said: "Going back to being the London Broncos is a great move. The players and playing staff are all behind it and it's an opportunity for a new start for this club albeit under an old name.

"We have invested heavily in the team over the off-season and we are all really excited about pre-season and getting ready for next year."

Home matches will continue to be played at The Twickenham Stoop Stadium in the 2012 season with the exception of a couple of games which are scheduled to be played elsewhere in an effort to showcase the game to a wider audience. Negotiations are ongoing for a new three year agreement for all home matches to be played at The Stoop.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London is equally delighted with the rename. He commented: "London is one of the world's greatest sporting cities and rugby league has an increasingly important role to play in helping to maintain this status.
"I am delighted to be working with the RFL on their community development programme in London, and I am equally pleased to see a team like the London Broncos reclaiming their original moniker and proudly displaying the London brand."

Vince Cable MP added: "As the Member of Parliament for Twickenham, it is always going to be a shame that we lose a name like Harlequins RL, but with this relaunch as London Broncos, we are gaining an iconic rugby brand that fans have been calling for. Combined with new signings, I look forward to seeing the London Broncos doing very well in Super League."

The charitable arm of the London based club will also be re-named in line with the new brand. The London Broncos Rugby League Foundation promotes sport and physical activity, healthy lifestyles and social inclusion programmes. Working across west London, east London and Surrey, in 2011 the Foundation engaged over 30,000 people through Rugby League, dance, education and leadership programmes as well as community events.